HAU signs MoU with private firm on production of hybrid maize

Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana agricultural university (HAU) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Balaji Agri Biotech Pvt Ltd of Odisha on Monday for production and marketing of two hybrid varieties of maize.

An official spokesperson said under the agreement, the company has been granted a non-exclusive license for a period of five years for production and marketing of seeds of two hybrids of maize - HPQM-1 and HPQM-5 developed by the university.

Human resource management director Ram Singh on behalf of the university and Deepak K Agarwal on behalf of Balaji Agri Biotech Pvt Ltd signed the MoU in a function held on university campus. Ram Singh claimed that maize hybrids of university were in great demand among private seed companies across the country.

He said the average yield of HPQM-1 was 55 quintals/hectare and HPQM-5 was 58 quintals/hectare. Besides, these hybrids were resistant against leaf blight, common rust and chilo partellus diseases.

This was the 14th license being granted to a private seed company for production and marketing of seeds of maize hybrids.